Officially, Fangst Blåmusling No.1 Limfjord Blue Mussels. The "No.x" designation on Fangst products appears to simplify differentiating between preparation methods. There is also a "No.2" which is just smoked blue mussels. Not entirely necessary, but at minimum a convenience. The blåmusling is a bit redundant, as it only means "blue mussel" in Danish. This tin from Caputo's has been in my inventory for months now, and it seemed like high time to crack it open.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
These are tiny. And numerous. There must be at least 40 in there, maybe more. The initial aroma is odd, vinegary. A check of the label confirms apple cider vinegar in addition to the cold-pressed rapeseed oil. A sip of the liquid is both tangy and, I have to say, kind of nutty in an herbaceous way.
Taking out my trusty culinary tweezers, I started in. Picking them out, one at a time, I note the flavor of the mussels is delicate. They are meaty yet tender. The oil, vinegar, dill and fennel seeds give a subtle vinaigrette flavor to it all. It takes a moment, but I realize the dill is also seeds, not the dried herb.
The marinade also has a slight sweetness. I don't really find things here too salty at all, so the label listing 700mg. sodium is surprising. I would have guessed far less, half that at most.
Being nerdy, I counted them as I ate. Ultimately, there were 50 in total. Underneath it all was a copious quantity of the dill seeds and fennel seeds. I tasted spoonfulls of the marinade and seeds and thought about ways I might use this tin as part of a recipe in the future. Whisking the marinade with some additional oil for use as a dressing over a light pasta with the mussels seemed like it might work well.
Main Takeaways
- Tiny, meaty mussels
- Well-balanced marinade doesn't overpower shellfish flavor
- A little spendy, but worth it
Reasonably priced in packs of three at Amazon.
Brand: Fangst (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Description: Limfjord blue mussels with dill and fennel seeds
Species: Mytilus Edulis
Country of Origin: Denmark
Source: FAO 27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.88 oz.
Price Range: $10